Jig and out-of-autoclave process for manufacturing composite material structures

Abstract

The invention relates to a jig ( 9 ) for manufacturing composite material parts out-of-autoclave, comprising a base ( 11 ) the upper surface of which includes a stacking table ( 13 ) having a rotating movement and a shifting movement in the laminating direction, and a head ( 15 ) supported on a portal frame ( 17 ) through means allowing the shift perpendicular to the laminating direction on the mentioned table ( 13 ), the head ( 15 ) in turn comprising: automatic means ( 21 ) for placing tapes or roves of composite material in the form of prepreg; compacting means ( 23 ) for compacting the composite material and curing means ( 25 ) for polymerizing the composite material. The invention also relates to an out-of-autoclave process for manufacturing composite material structures.

1 . A jig ( 9 ) for manufacturing composite material parts out-of-autoclave, characterized in that it comprises:
 a) a base ( 11 ) the upper surface of which includes a stacking table ( 13 ) having a rotating movement and a shifting movement in the laminating direction, and   b) a head ( 15 ) supported on a portal frame ( 17 ) through means allowing the shift perpendicular to the laminating direction on the mentioned table ( 13 ), the head ( 15 ) in turn comprising:   b1) automatic means ( 21 ) for placing tapes or roves of composite material in the form of prepreg;   b2) compacting means ( 23 ) for compacting the composite material;   b3) curing means ( 25 ) for polymerizing the composite material.   
     
     
         2 . A jig ( 9 ) for manufacturing composite material out-of-autoclave according to  claim 1 , characterized in that the curing means ( 25 ) comprise infrared emitter equipment ( 27 ) and electron beam emitter equipment ( 29 ). 
     
     
         3 . A jig ( 9 ) for manufacturing composite material out-of-autoclave according to  claim 2 , characterized in that the power of the infrared emitter ( 27 ) and of the electron beam emitter ( 29 ) varies depending on the characteristics of the material to be processed, and more specifically on its thickness. 
     
     
         4 . A jig ( 9 ) for manufacturing composite material out-of-autoclave according to  claim 1 , characterized in that the compacting means ( 23 ) comprise a compacting roller ( 39 ) and an ultrasound compacting unit ( 41 ). 
     
     
         5 . A jig ( 9 ) for manufacturing composite material out-of-autoclave according to  claim 1 , characterized in that the automatic means ( 21 ) comprise a preimpregnated material reel ( 31 ), a guiding and cutting unit ( 33 ), a compacting roller ( 35 ) and a separating paper reel ( 37 ). 
     
     
         6 . A jig ( 9 ) for manufacturing composite material out-of-autoclave according to  claim 1 , characterized in that the jig ( 9 ) is structured to automatically adjust the distance on the stacking table ( 13 ) of the different means supported on the head ( 15 ). 
     
     
         7 . A jig ( 9 ) for manufacturing composite material out-of-autoclave according to  claim 1 , characterized in that the jig ( 9 ) is configured so that the compacting means ( 23 ), the automatic means ( 21 ) and the curing means ( 25 ) are activated. 
     
     
         8 . A jig ( 9 ) for manufacturing composite material out-of-autoclave according to  claim 1 , characterized in that the jig ( 9 ) is configured so that the curing means ( 25 ) are activated. 
     
     
         9 . A jig ( 9 ) for manufacturing composite material out-of-autoclave according to  claim 1 , characterized in that the maximum stacking speed of the head ( 15 ) is 70 m/min. 
     
     
         10 . A jig ( 9 ) for manufacturing composite material out-of-autoclave according to  claim 2 , characterized in that the infrared emitter ( 27 ) has the following features:
 wavelength between 900 nm and 1600 nm   filament temperature range between 1800° C. and 2200° C. power of each lamp of 600 W.   
     
     
         11 . A jig ( 9 ) for manufacturing composite material out-of-autoclave according to  claim 2 , characterized in that the electron beam emitter ( 29 ) has the following features:
 maximum acceleration voltage of 200 kV   maximum intensity of 3.2 mA.   
     
     
         12 . A jig ( 9 ) for manufacturing composite material out-of-autoclave according to  claim 4 , characterized in that the frequency of the ultrasound compacting unit ( 41 ) is comprised between 20 kHz and 40 kHz. 
     
     
         13 . An out-of-autoclave process for manufacturing composite material structures, characterized in that it comprises the following steps:
 a) placing composite material in the form of prepreg tapes or roves on a jig with the shape of the structure to be manufactured, compacting it and partially curing it after it is placed until completing a layer of the structure;   b) repeating step a) until completing the stacking of the structure;   c) curing the last layer of the structure until the required curing degree.   
     
     
         14 . An out-of-autoclave process for manufacturing composite material structures, characterized in that it comprises the following steps:
 a) placing composite material in the form of prepreg tapes or roves on a jig with the shape of the structure, compacting it after it is placed until completing a layer of the structure.   b) repeating step a) until completing the stacking of the structure;   c) curing the structure by means of locally applying energy on its surface with an electron beam emitter.